Make it two 3A softball titles.
Redmond did it again: First winning the KingCo tournament title two weeks ago and then, defeating Holy Names Academy, 7-0, on May 19 to notch the SeaKing District championship at the Southwest Athletic Complex in Seattle.
State is next on the Stangs’ slate.
Redmond (21-4) will open state at noon Friday against Gig Harbor at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey.
Leading the Redmond hit parade against Holy Names were Audrey Walker with two hits and three RBIs, Lauren Lund with two hits, Camille Eaton with two hits, Lindsay Tsujikawa with one hit and two RBIs and Jen Cummings with one hit and one RBI.
Kiki Milloy earned the win and fanned 10 batters.
Lund said winning district and watching the Mustangs rise to the occasion in such a big game was one of her best feelings ever.
“It’s really been about the team and holding each other accountable,” said the sophomore left fielder. “We’re always trying to do our best for each other. We’re all really close and we compete as a team. Every time we work hard, we seem to be having fun.”
Walker, a freshman shortstop, said the Stangs do a stellar job motivating one another for each game, each at-bat. In warmups, they stay focused and visualize what pitchers might throw their way.
Walker admits to feeling nervous playing on varsity as a freshman, but the key for her when the pressure builds is to “take a deep breath before each at-bat.”
Another freshman, Cummings, has been making her mark this season from behind the plate and catching powerhouse hurler Milloy, a sophomore who has already committed to play for the University of Tennessee.
“It’s really cool, it’s really exciting, especially for a freshman to come in and compete right away,” said Cummings, who added that Milloy makes her a better player when they both work so closely together. “I know that I have to do my job for her to do hers.”
Cummings noted that Milloy’s curve ball and rise ball are menacing to batters.
To keep rolling at this weekend’s state tournament, Cummings said the Stangs need to keep their bats hot, defense solid and continue picking each other up and communicating.
